Guixiang

桂祥 (1849 – January 10, 1914), of the Nala clan, was born into the Manchu Xianglan Banner, later transferred to the Manchu Xianghuang Banner. He was the younger brother of Empress Dowager Cixi, the father of Empress Dowager Longyu, the maternal uncle of the Tongzhi Emperor, the maternal uncle and father-in-law of the Guangxu Emperor, an imperial relative of the Qing Dynasty, and held the rank of Third-Class Cheng'en Gong.

Life

桂祥 was the son of Hui Zheng and brother of Empress Dowager Cixi. In the 13th year of the Tongzhi reign (1874), he served as a guard at the Ganjingmen. In the 10th year of the Guangxu reign (1884), he was promoted to the rank of deputy governor-general; in the 12th year (1886), he served as a guard before the emperor and vice commander of the Han army in the Xiangwhite Banner. In October of the 14th year of Guangxu (1888), his eldest daughter, the Nala clan, was chosen as the Empress for the Guangxu Emperor. On the Jia-auxiliary day of that month, 桂祥 was promoted to Third-Class Cheng'en Gong, and served successively as commander of the Guards of the Red Banner and the Yellow Banner. In the 15th year of Guangxu (1889), he was a candidate for a court position, and in December of the 16th year, the Right Minister of Works Feng Lie transferred him to become the Minister of War in Shengjing. 桂祥, as Cheng'en Gong, served as the Right Minister of Works, overseeing the Qianfa Hall affairs, and commanding the Right Front Frontline troops. In the 17th year of Guangxu, he was appointed vice commander of the Mongolian in the Xianghuang Banner. In the 18th year, he managed affairs of the Divine Machine Camp. In the 20th year of Guangxu, he was awarded the title of Eight Fen Supporter of the State and was promoted to be the commander of the Han troops in the Xiangwhite Banner, overseeing the Divine Machine Camp cavalry and infantry units stationed at Shanhaiguan and Houzhaijiang. In the 22nd year, he stationed the Divine Machine Camp cavalry and infantry at Nanyuan. In the 23rd year, he served as Deputy Supervisor of Chongwen Gate. In the 26th year, he was appointed a Neidamashi. In April of the 28th year of Guangxu, he, along with the Duke of Support, Zai Zuo, managed affairs of the Jianrui Camp. Subsequently, he served as a Royal Guard stationed at Lianggezhuang and in the first year of the Xuantong Emperor, was granted food and double salary as a supporting duke.

Republican Period

In the second year of the Republic of China (1913), the government bulletin reported that “Zai Gong, Jing Feng, Gong Sang Nuorbu, Se Leng E, Kui Bin, Pu Lun, 桂祥, and Bo Disu are managing the affairs of the annual banners.” That year, Zai Gong was the Mongolian commander of the Xianghuang Banner, Jing Feng of the Yellow Banner, Gong Sang Nuorbu of the Plain White Banner, Se Leng E of the Red Banner Han Army, Kui Bin of the Xiangwhite Banner, Pu Lun of the Xianghong Banner, 桂祥 of the Plain Blue Banner, and Bo Disu of the Xianglan Banner. On December 15th of the same year (January 10, 1914), 桂祥 passed away. Puyi awarded him a Dola Sutra and dispatched Beizi Pu Jin to offer funeral rites, with 5,000 taels of silver given for mourning expenses.

Family

Father: Hui Zheng; Uncle: Hui Chun; Brothers: Zhao Xiang, Fo You. His primary wife was of the Aisin Gioro clan, who died in the 30th year of Guangxu (1904). His eldest son was 德恒 (Deheng), his second son 德祺 (Deqi). His eldest daughter became Empress Dowager Longyu, nicknamed Jing Fen, born to the Aisin Gioro clan. His second daughter was the primary wife of Duke Support Zai Ze; at that time, she was four years younger than Empress Dowager Longyu. He also had a third daughter who died early. His fourth daughter was the primary wife of Shun Cheng Junwang (Nelehe) and was over ten years younger than Empress Dowager Longyu. His adopted son was Cui Yugui.